Modi River

Modi River or Modi Khola is a tributary of Gandaki River in Parbat district of Nepal. It is a snow-fed perennial river originating from Annapurna Mountains and has a catchment area of 675 km2. It meets the Kali Gandaki River at Modi Beni of Parbat District. The total length (from head to the confluence) of the river is approximately 50km.[1] The main tributaries of Modi river are Bhurangdi Khola, Rati Khola, Pati Khola, Malyangdi Khola, Ghandruk Khola and Ambote Khola. The mean annual precipitation in the basin is approximately 2700mm and 80% of the total annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon. [2]

Modi River
Native nameमोदी खोला (Nepali)
Physical characteristics
SourceAnnapurna Mountains
Mouth 
  coordinates
28°12′09″N 83°40′12″E
Basin size675 sq. km.
Basin features
River systemGandaki River

Water Use

The river banks Modi Khola consists of forest area and few agricultural and cultivated land. It is argued that the water of the Modi Khola is not suitable for irrigation purpose as the water in the Khola mainly comes from the melting glaciers and is too cold for crops.[2]

Land use in Modi River basin
Land useArea (km2)
Cultivation132.9
Forest and bush273.5
Grassland/Pasture68.2
Glacier34.3
Others165.8

Fisheries

Commercial or traditional fish farms/ponds are not present in the Modi river. However, the river has various fish species (mainly Asala or Snow trout) naturally. [2] Other fish species are carps (Schizothorax plagiostomus, Schizothorax richardsonii, Schizothoraichthys progastus, Garra gotyla and Garra annandalei) and catfish (Glyptothorax pectinopterus and Pseudecheneis sulcata). [1]

Drinking water

The water from Modi Khola is not used for drinking purpose.[2]

Hydropowers

Following hydropower projects are either constructed, under-construction or under planning in this river, all of them are run-of-river types.[2]

  • Upper Modi A Hydroelectric Power Plant (42MW)
  • Upper Modi Hydroelectric Power Plant(14MW)
  • Landruk Modi Hydroelectric Power Plant (86.59MW)
  • Middle Modi Khola Hydroelectric Power Plant(15.1MW) - under construction
  • Modi Khola Hydroelectric Power Plant(14.8MW) - operating
  • Lower Modi Khola Hydroelectric Power Plant(20MW) - under construction
  • Lower Modi-1 Hydroelectric Power Plant(10MW) - operating
  • Lower Modi-2 Hydropower Project(10.5MW) [3]

See also

References

  1. Bhandari, I.S., 2019. Rampant Development of Water Diversion Projects as a Threat to Fish Diversity: A Case of the Modi Khola. Hydro Nepal: Journal of Water, Energy and Environment 24, 17–19. https://doi.org/10.3126/hn.v24i0.23576
  2. Assessment of the Environmental Flow in the Gandaki River Basin: A Case of Modi Khola (PDF). Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha (JVS)/GWP Nepal. 2016.
  3. "Lower Modi-2 (Cascade) Hydropower Project (10.5MW) – United Modi Hydropower Ltd". Retrieved 2020-08-05.
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